Episode 84: Sincerity (2)
Pleiades.
Starlight’s second idol group and the undisputed 2024 idol scene champion, having snagged daesangs at both Golden Disc and Seoul Music Awards.
With Polaris, the rookie who swept all three major rookie awards, now limited to just Golden Disc’s, Pleiades is Starlight’s most heavily pushed act.
Their comeback showcase clashing with Hylliy’s? One word:
‘Code Red.’
“Ugh, damn… of all groups, Pleiades…”
Even Ailee, whom I’d never heard curse, let a harsh consonant slip.
No one called her out— the crisis was that dire.
The once-warm MyWay meeting room turned icy fast.
This never happened pre-regression.
Polaris’s debut timing shifted, and Starlight’s comeback schedule diverged from my memories.
‘This is a headache…’
Even with my experience outmatching anyone here, this isn’t light.
Unless we delay Hylliy’s comeback by a month, they’ll face Pleiades head-on throughout.
‘Pleiades won’t just do a week and dip.’
I know their members inside out.
A stage-obsessed girl, one fueled by fan cheers, another who’d dance in hell if she could, and one who collects music show trophies like hobbies— a collective of attention magnets.
Even if management suggests a casual week for music shows, they’d plug their ears and demand a full month.
‘No choice.’
Knowing this isn’t a passing shower, our options are slim.
‘Three?’
Recalling them, ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ came to mind.
Upper, middle, lower strategies—fitting labels.
The silence here, devoid of “What do we do?” reflects everyone weighing those three.
Why?
‘The lower’s obvious.’
Even the middle and upper carry risks hard to shoulder.
Even if MyWay’s a near-mythical company, it’s still human-run—hesitation’s natural.
So, it falls to me.
A producer’s authority comes with duty.
“Two options.”
I ditch the worthless lower strategy upfront.
Others likely excluded it too.
“Two, huh? Let’s hear it, Producer Yujin.”
“First, move the comeback forward. They’re heavyweight champs; we’re light-to-middle at best. No need to start with a slugfest.”
The comeback showcase.
A goldmine for entertainment reporters—half water, half meat.
A single photo and a line like “On such-and-such date, so-and-so held a showcase” racks up views.
In that case, even pro-MyWay media would tilt toward them.
So, avoid the same scale entirely.
Lucky for us, we haven’t locked the schedule yet.
But—
“That risks… this.” I rubbed my thumb and finger, hinting at money.
Yes, cash is the snag.
Canceling the venue means penalties, plus overpaying for a new one.
Reworking teaser videos and details?
‘Ouch, that’s a fortune.’
I’d cringe seeing the finance team’s face twist.
“What about delaying the comeback?”
“Starting first to check them, then handing the lead to Pleiades? That’s neither here nor there.”
Delaying saves cash but kills momentum.
Yet the finance head shook no.
“No, if avoiding, skip not just the date but the whole period…”
“Oh, that. Sorry to cut in, but… no. That’d crush the girls’ morale.”
Rude to interrupt an elder, but I countered.
That’s the lower strategy I rejected from the start.
Maybe if they were a boy group, I’d consider it. For a girl group? Zero merit.
“Dodging the period is like telling Hylliy, ‘You’re beneath Pleiades.’ Even if the world turns, we must trust and cheer them.”
There’s a practical reason too.
‘Run now, and who’s next?’
Only Starlight’s moves are unpredictable.
Other agencies’ plans still align with my forecasts.
‘Sunshine’s “UniC” ended December last year. Overwhelm’s “TDW” just wrapped. Same pre-regression.’
That suggests other agencies’ schedules haven’t shifted much.
As tectonic plates slowly move, they’ll scramble eventually, but not yet.
Based on that—
‘Sunshine’s “L2V,” JWY’s “Cheshire Kitty,” Overwhelm’s TDW repackage. That’s pure hell.’
Sunshine’s top boy group, JWY’s do-or-die girl group, and TDW’s staggered assault.
By early-to-mid April, when Hylliy and Pleiades would finish, a royal rumble erupts.
They don’t know this yet, but it’d make a “soul clash” with Pleiades seem preferable.
‘If we’re diving in, I’d rather go.’
Unless I can meddle from outside, Hylliy—tied to idol status—will be sucked into that ring, becoming a punching bag.
Delaying the period is nonsense.
“Hm. Producer Yujin’s right. Dodging forever kills comebacks. How far can we push it up?”
“A week’s impossible. Within the current week, maybe one or two days.”
“No choice. If our producer calls it the upper strategy, let’s roll.”
Seo Yoonje and Ailee’s exchange followed.
But I raised a hand.
“Wait.”
“Huh?”
“I never said this was upper. Moving it up is middle at best.”
With that cost, how could it be upper?
Even with my wealth, I’ve got that much sense.
“Wait, then what’s the upper strategy?”
The finance team head’s eager question drew curious tilts from others.
That moment, I was sure.
The three options differed starkly between my exclusions and theirs.
Yet they hadn’t considered the “upper” at all.
“Yujin-ssi, don’t tell me…!”
“No, right?”
Seo Yoonje and Ailee seemed to catch on.
“Naturally, we go as is.”
Facing them all month anyway, if we’re aiming for a career high, we should knock out the toughest rival—Pleiades—with a body blow or uppercut from the start.
Of course, I can’t outright say, “We’ll crush Pleiades.”
‘Right?’
This level of talk feels fine among us.
“Huh…”
“Ugh…”
A new silence, different from Pleiades’ news, settled. No one seemed to share my view.
But I, who’d dodge for a better battlefield without hesitation, am convinced.
‘This fight’s worth taking.’
I’ve prepped enough.
‘Mysty’.
From Pleiades’ 4th-gen peak to Laira’s 5th-gen shift.
Laira’s ‘Mysty’ sparked that generational change.
‘So, does Hylliy lack Laira’s talent?’
Not at all.
Seo Yoonje’s duo.
Jeon Seonwoo, plus MyWay’s rookie development team—four total.
Under the “MyWay girl group” banner, these girls are rough gems.
Laira had talent overloads; Hylliy’s no slouch.
If anything, I wonder why they’re so subdued.
“Don’t you all have faith in the Hylliy name you created? I see real potential.”
A third silence hit the room.
But this one differed sharply from before.
“Don’t you all have faith in the Hylliy name you created? I see real potential.”
Their eyes sparkled.
MyWay staff’s pride, unshown even during my wildest stirs, stood tall.
“Producer Yujin, can you back that up?”
Seo Yoonje broke the silence, his burning gaze unhidden.
“I don’t know how much weight my word carries, but yes. I’ll take what I can.”
My instant reply drew a smirk from him.
‘Gotta reward that Yohan kid somehow.’
He wanted to pat himself for answering Ko Yohan’s call last spring.
Even if this fails, if Yujin sustains that confidence, Seo Yoonje felt he’d trust him with his role.
Pfft. “Why’s Yujin-producer taking the fall? I’m the overall lead. Fine, I’ll take the heat. Pleiades is a worthy foe—lose well if we must.”
His words brimmed with resolve.
No objections.
With pride ignited like a struck match, the room was ablaze.
“So, how’ll we handle the press, Producer? Believing in Hylliy won’t lure journalists from Pleiades.”
The PR team head’s question to me carried curiosity, not denial—eager to support once I outlined it.
“Let’s play a trump card as MC. That could secure a decision win, if not a KO.”
“A trump card? Director Lee Ah-jeong might backfire.”
Cough.
My dry choke.
‘Can’t deny it, but really? Trump card means Ahjeong?’
Bitter, yet it lightened the mood.
“Yes, ahem. Senior AZ would backfire. He’s no MC fit, and attention would shift from the girls to him.”
“Then…?”
“No MC’s set yet, right?”
“Yes, under discussion—can be overturned.”
“Good. Let me make a call.”
Confirming with the PR team head, I pulled out my phone.
“Hello, Senior. It’s Yujin. Yes, doing well? Great. Let’s plan dinner with Zia sometime. Anyway, I’ve a favor. Your schedule for the 12th next month…?”
Wondering who my trump was—
‘Wait, no way…?!’
Seo Yoonje, noting few in entertainment I’d address so warmly, deduced it.
“Thanks for agreeing so readily, Senior. We’ll follow up officially. Summer? Yes, just name the date. I’ll clear it, however long.”
*Ha*.
Watching me, Seo Yoonje couldn’t hold back a laugh.
Less than a year in, leveraging skill for this—behind that warm face, he saw a nest of snakes.
“Yes, MC’s secured. PR team head, please handle details. They’ll adjust reasonably.”
“Uh… who…?”
“Oh, I didn’t say.”
The PR head’s confusion mirrored others’ faces.
Only Seo Yoonje, besides me, caught on, mentally listing the hire’s merits.
Once an icon, “he” boasts name value unknown to few in Korea—enough to grab press eyes.
Past his prime, his hosting skills rival pros, able to toss attention to Hylliy.
“Hylliy’s comeback showcase MC will be Senior Ji Sehyuk.”
Securing the scandal-free, 2000s all-rounder for a mere showcase?
“…This guy’s insane.”
Seo Yoonje muttered.
Another silence fell.
It was winter.